Abrasive cleaning system



Jan. 20, 1948. G. D. DILL ABRASIVE CLEANING SYSTEM Filed Dec. 29, 1945 6Sheets-Sheet l m Mn N. 7 EM 5 Wm G @ZLQ LMAMU M 1 ATTORNEYS Jan. 20,1948. G. D. DlLL 2,434,881

ABRAS IVE CLEANING SYSTEM Filed Dec. 29, 1945 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 NVENTOR6'14 55/? 7'0. 17/44 \\L) m! MA ATTORNEYS -c-;. D. DlLL I i 2,434,881

ABRASIVE CLEANING SYSTEM Jan. 20, 1948.

Filed Dec; 29, 1945 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTO ATTORNEYS v J n. 20, 1948.2,434,881

ABRASIVE CLEANING SYSTEM Filed Dec. 29, 1945 6 Shets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR6748519742 0/1.;

ATTORNEYS Jan. 20, 1948. ca; D. DILL ABRAS IVE CLEANING SYSTEM 1 FiledDec. 29, 1945 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 W 7 MN M A J NVENTO R Gasser-0. 0/4 4 &

ATTORNEYS Jan. 20, 1948. G. D. DlLL ABRASIVE CLEANING SYSTEM Filed Dec29, 1945 6 SheetsSheet 6 INVENTORI 6/4 ASE/Q70. 0/44.

" \pulkilww M ATTORNEYS Patented Jan. 20, 1948 2,434,881 ABRASIVECLEANING SYSTEM Gilbert D. Dill, South Bend, Ind., assignor to AmericanWheelabrator & Equipment Corporation, a corporation of DelawareApplication December 29, 1945, Serial No. 637,922

8 Claims.

The invention relates to sheet blasting or cleaning equipment and moreparticularly to apparatus for threading or starting the leading edge ofa metal strip or sheet through the blasting apparatus.

In descaling or cleaning steel sheet or strip by blasting, the work isfed through a blasting room or cabinet where the blasting wheels directtheir blasts onto the work as it moves through the machine. An object ofthe invention is to provide a threading device which will transport theleading edge of flat material through the machine without requiringexternal equipment; another object is to eliminate the use of a dummysheet or strip for transporting the leading edge of flat materialthrough such a machine; another object is to provide a threading devicewhich will permit blasting the leading parts of the fiat material whileit is being threaded through the machine.

According to a preferred form of the present invention, a carriage orplatform is provided which is adapted to be power driven, eitherpositively or frictionally, from the entrance of the cleaning room toits exit. This platform has a clamping device for clamping the leadingedge of the work strip. This carriage pulls the work strip through themachine until the carriage reaches the exit end of the machine at whichpoint the clamp is automatically opened and the work strip is continuedthrough the machine by engagement with the several power driven rollswithin the machine. Suitable vestibules are provided at the entrance andexit having access doors for operating the clamp. These vestibules alsohave suitable rubber curtains for sealing the entrance and exit pointsagainst the moving work sheet. The blasting units may be of the motordriven centrifugal wheel type known commercially as Wheelabrators whichthrow metal shot or grit at blasting speed against the surface of thework. One or more of the blasting machines may be located both above andbelow the work is made for removing the blasting units from the machinefor inspection or replacement with a spare.

The invention also consists in certain new and original features andcombinations hereinafter set forth and claimed.

Although the novel features which are believed to be characteristic ofthis invention will be particularly pointed out in the claims appendedhereto, the invention itself, as to its objects and advantages, and themanner in which it may be carried out, may be better understood byreferstrip, and suitable provision ring to the following descriptiontaken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a parthereof, in which:

Fig. l is a side elevation of a complete machine utilizing a positivedrive for the carriage;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail section taken parallel to Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a transverse section, corresponding to Fig. 3, but takenthrough a modified form of machine having a frictional drive for thecarriage;

Fig. 5 is a skeleton side elevation illustrating the frictional drivepath through the friction drive type machine;

Fig. 6 is a skeleton plan view of the frictional drive type illustratingthe path of the carriage through the machine;

Fig. 7 is a side elevation of the carriage including work clamp for thefrictional drive type;

Fig. 8 is a plan View of the carriage shown in Fig. 7; and

Fig. 9 is a detail illustrating the construction of one of thesupporting rolls.

In the following description and in the claims, various details will beidentified by specific names for convenience, but theyare intended to beas generic in their application as the art will permit.

Like reference characters denote like parts in the several figures ofthe drawings. fIn the drawings accompanying and forming part of thisspecification, certain specific dis,- closure of the invention is madefor purposes of explanation, but it will be understood that the detailsmay be modified in various respects without departure from the broadaspect of the invention.

Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to the positivedrive type of carriage as illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3, the apparatuscomprises in general the usual framework 10 which supports the abrasive,circulatory apparatus which cleans the abrasive and feeds it back to theblasting wheels.

A cabinet indicated generally by H has longitudinal vertical side wallsl2 and I3, a roof l4, entrance vestibule I5 and exit vestibule I6. Two

removable up-blast units I! and I8 clean the lower surface of the workstrip 2| which is fed horizontally through the machine in the directionof arrow B. Two down-blast units I9 and 20 are located above the cabinetII and project partially through the roof M for cleaning the uppersurface of the work strip 2|.

The carriage 22 for threading the work through the machine is propelledby a plurality of power driven intermediate rolls 23. A pair of idlerrolls 24 at the entrance end of the cabinet and a pair of id;er rolls 25and 25a at the exit end provide stationary entrance and exit positionsfor the carriageasexplained more indetail below. Roll 25a is outside thecabinet.

The cabinet H' comprises the blasting room 26 with which the entranceand exit vestibules l5, l6 communicate. The blasting room 26 is linedwith a series of clapboard linenpl'atfeside noted in general by 35whichline the ceiling side walls and end walls to abrasive which isdeflected from the work? Thecabinet is or knockdown welded constructionfor ease oi handlin in shipping.- and: erectiom The lining 35 comprisesone inch thick steel overlapping wearing plates, weighing about eightypounds each. These plates are hung on the frame by hooks denoted ingeneralby 45 in such manner that they may beeasi-ly and quickly removedand replaced when worn.

The entrance vestibule i5 is provided with an entrance, door 21- whichmaybe openedto enable the attendant to manually place the leading edgeof the work sheet or strip 2! into the clampor carriage '2 2; as will beexplained hereinafter. The exit vestibule 16 has a similar door 26;Thevestibuies' are equipped with rubber curtains 23 and 30 aroundentrance and exit slots respectively to prevent abrasive leakage. Endwalls 8'? and 58 protect the vestibules and have openings for passingthe carriage and work strip: End wall 88 protects carriage 22 fromabrasive when it rests on exitidlers 25 and 250:.

The cabinet is equipped witlfr service doors to permit'a workman toenter thero'om for necessary adjustments, inspection'and" repairs. S'ervice door 3t is in wall l2 near the entrance end and is shown in' Figs.1". and 2; A similar service door is near the exit end-in theopposite'side wall [3. The room is provided with a steel grating floor33' contained in a hopperdi which collects the spent abrasive. Opposite"door 31, on the other longitudinal. sidewall f3- is an opening 55 toremove up -blast unit I 8" while; opposite the other service door insidewall l2, is-another opening'55 to remove up-blast unit H (see Figs.1, 2' and 3').

As stated above, the path of travelof the work through the machineincludes the series of rubber' covered rolls 23, 24; 25; 25a; All: rollsare mounted on shafts indicated in general by 65 which project throughthe side wallsof' the cam net and are journaled in suitable bearingsfl?attached' to the side walls. Suitable gears indicated in general by 43are mounted on those'sharts-E l which are ower driven, idler gears-45being'provided for transmitting motion between the several shafts. Thesegears are all drivenby a; suitable reversible prime mover (not'shownl.

The rubber covered rolls 23'; 23; 25, 25a" may be of similarconstruction so only rollsritwili'be' described in detail. In onepreferred form, (Fig; 9) the roll 23 is made up of a hollow'metal' pipe47 having discs Q8. welded in the ends thereof; which discs in turn havehubs 59 weldedthereto. These hubs are mounted on the" shafts 64 andfixed thereto by set screws or'pins' 55; These'shafts extend aconsiderable distance beyond the ends of the rolls and have journalsmounted. in the bearings 32.

The outer surfaceof the pipe 4'? is rough-cut spirally aboutone-sixteenth of an inch deep.

absorb the wear. ofthe H I lower may The cut starts from the middle andworks outwardly, forming spirals 52 and 53 of opposite hand, toward eachend of the roll, as indicated. The rubber coating 54 is suitably bondedor other- Wise fixed to the steel surface of the roll. The spiralgrooves 52 and 53 assist in bonding the rubber to the roll. Thedirection .of the spiral will be in: such relationship to the: directionof forward rotation of the roll so as to cause any creepage of therubber on the roll to move the rubber toward the middle of the roll.

Ridingmn the rubber covered rolls is the carriage 22 comprising ingeneral a top plate 36 having an eccentric'clamping device 31 operatedby levers 38, one. at. each end of the clamp. The top plate 36 hasdepending side rails 39 whose be in the form of racks 40 whichengagerubber covered pinions M located on the power driven shafts M but not onthe shafts of idler rolls 24, 2-5, 25a. Levers 38 engage a" stop bar 6 9near'theexit end toopen the clamp as explained hereinafter: Details oiconstruction of 'thecarriage-2 2" and clamping device-31 maybe similarto-those of theca-rriage illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8 used in thefriction driven formdescribed hereinafter.

Asstated, the up -blast units IT and [8 are removable through openings55* inthe opposite longitudinal side walls of the cabinet, said openingsbeing oppositetheir respective servicedoors; Each unit may beeasilymepl'aced by a spare unit incase of breakdown. The units areself-comt'ai'ned and are enclosed and protected from' flying' abrasive;Since they are substantially identical in construction, a description ofone will suffice' for both;

Each up-blast' unit comprises a suitable frame or car H? having flangedwheels 19 riding on tracks Bit The unit is withdrawn by rolling it,motorside first. laterally through the sidewall opening 55 onto portableextension tracks 94. For example, unit f8-is removable in thedirectionof arrow C; and unit 1"!" is removablein the direction ofarrowD. The up-blast units" are removabl'y' bolted irrplace bythe flangeon the car engaging the cabinet around the opening 55-. Each unit has adrive motor 14' and a blast wheel 15, the" blast wheel being mountedupon a shaft journaled in bearings 16. A V-belt drive 1T connects motorand blast wheel" shafts.

The blast wheel 15 is disposed between protecting walls 8:1", 82 which.form, with sloping end walls 92; 93;.a wheel'compartment. These wallsare mountedupon the carriageor frame T8. The wheel compartment is openat the bottom to avoidicoll'ectlng abrasive and is open at the top topass the upward directive blast against the work. The blasts areindicated by fan-shaped dot and dash lines. in Fig; 3.

The wheel compartment walls cooperate with stationary plates orwalls 91'mounted in the cabinet. A shroud 83covers the top and inner side of thecarriage including bearings 16, motor T4 and belt TT' and: meets withthe wheel confining wall 81. Shroud 83' also meets im'th an open panel96 which is. secured tov the carriage and which seats against theadjoining longitudinal side wall; Thus the motor 14" is opento theoutside of the cabinet through opening. 91 in panel 96' but the shroudand wheel confining walls prevent escape of abrasive through thisopening.

Also" mounted on the carriage 18 is a feedfunnel which directs abrasive;into the center of the wheel from' feed pipe 51; as will be: understoodby those skilled in the art.

The relationship of the several blast wheels "-20 to the path of travelof the work through the machine is the same as illustrated in Fig. 6illustrating the friction drive type where same reference charactersindicate similar parts. The axes of the up-blast Wheels l1, l8 areparallel to the direction of Work travel. The wheels are not in line andthe points of blast delivery are oppositely disposed. Each wheel forms ablast pattern on the work extending entirely across the width of thework.

The down-blast units [9, 20 are constructed and arranged similarly tothe up-blast units except that no removing tracks are provided. Theseunits are disposed outside of the cabinet II and are removable as byanoverhead crane. The down-blast units have their points of delivery ofabrasive from the wheels diametrically opposed as in the case with theup-blast wheels and each down-blast wheel forms a blast pattern on theWork extending entirely across the width of the work.

It Will be understood that the abrasive is fed to the blast wheels andis circulated in accordance with standard practice. Tracing briefly thecirculatory path, the spent abrasive is received in the bottom hopper 34which leads to the bottom of-an endless bucket belt elevator whichdischarges into a separator for separating dust and dirt and thence intoa storage hopper 32. From the storage hopper the abrasive is fed throughsuitable control devices to pipes 51 leading to the several blast units|1-20.

To use the apparatus, let it be assumed that the carriage 22 is at theentrance end of the machine on the entrance idler rolls 24. The operatoropens the entrance door 21 and inserts the forward end of the work strip2| into the eccentric clamp 31 and pushes levers 38 forward to clamp thework strip firmly onto the carriage 22.

The carriage may then be either pushed by hand or by existing feedingrolls (not shown) until the carriage racks 40 engage the first powerdriven roll pinons 4|. Such existing feed rolls may be those whichconvey the work strip from storage rolls or from prior fabricatingoperations.

After the carriage 22 engages the first feed roll 23, the operator maythen close the entrance door 21 and start the blast wheels to deliverabrasive. The positive engagement between the rubber covered pinions 4|and the carriage racks 40 assisted by frictional engagement between thecarriage platform and the rubber covered driven rolls themselves, startsthe carriage moving through the machine, the carriage engaging fur-(When the eccentric clamp 31 opens, the work strip 2| continues to move,being driven by the rubber covered power driven rolls 23 which directlyengage it as it travels behind the carriage. The work strip 2| continuesto passthrough the machine over the carriage platform, which is nowstationary, and through the exit curtains 30 onto further rolls (notshown), if desired. Such further rolls may pull the work strip anddeliver it to storage rolls or to further processing apparatus,depending upon the particular plant.

After the work strip 2| is completely fed through the machine and comesto an'end, the carriage 22 may be returned to the entrance end by simplyreversing the power driven rolls 23. Th operator must first open theexit door 28 and manually push the carriage 22 until it engages thenearest driven roll 23. The power driven rolls 23 then drive thecarriage back to the entrance end onto the two entrance idlers 24 intoposition for starting a succeeding work strip. The blast may be turnedoff during the return travel of the carriage.

Referring now to Figs. 4 to '1, the friction type is constructedgenerally similar to the positive drive type described above, and forsimplicity, such similar parts in the friction type will be be denotedby the sam reference characters as used in the .positive'drive type. Themain differences in the friction type as compared with the positivedrive type reside in the drive between carriage and rolls and in themanner of driving the roll shafts;

Thus, in the friction type, the drive pinions and racks on carriage 22are omitted and plain side rails indicated by 63 are used, which siderails cooperate with the ends of the rolls 23, 24, 25, 25a to guide thecarriage in a straight path through the machine. Sprockets, indicated ingeneral by 85, are mounted on the roll shafts 44 for driving the powerdriven rolls 23. Sprockets 85 are connected by chains, indicated ingeneral by 86. A in the positive drive form, the entrance rolls 24 areidlers andthe exit rolls 25 and 25a. are idlers. The sprocket and chaindrive 85, 86 is driven in any desired manner from a source of reversiblepower, one of the roll shafts 44 being shown extended for the mountingof suitable drive mechanism. It will be understood that belts andpulleys may be substituted for the sproeketsand chains. I

Referring now also to Figs. 7 and 8, the car- -ri'age 22 comprises abase plate or platform 60 ther driven rolls and pinions in succession.It

will, of course, be understood that the several driven pinions 4| haveproper angular positions on their shafts so that the teeth of the racks40 will always mesh properly succeeding power driven pinions.

The power driven rolls and pinions then pull the carriage with itsappended work strip through the machine without any further attention onthe part of the operator. The carriage advances until the clamp levers38 engage the work stop 69 which opens the clamp 31, immediatelyafterwards, the carriage overruns the last power driven roll and restsupon the two exit idlers 25, 2501. with the carriage projecting outthrough the exit rubber curtains 30. The engagement between clamp levers38 and stop 69 limits the travel of the carriage.

which comprises a top plate 6| with depending side bars 82 and 63secured theretoon its lower surface.

arm 38 at either end. The front edge of the work strip 2| is adapted tobe clamped between the eccentric roll 61 and the top base plate 6| bymoving the operating arm in the direction of the arrow A in Fig. 7. Itwill be understood that, when the carrier moves through the machine, theoperating arms 38 engage the cross bar 69 as discussed above, whichautomatically loosens the clamp to permit free movement of the workstrip 2| through the clamp 31.

Suitable stops 1!] are provided to limit the 'movement'of the clamp andthus-the pressure exentrance and certain of said rolls at said exitbeing idlers, the intermediate rolls being power driven rolls, pinionsattached to the intermediate rolls, means for journaling said rolls, acarriage comprising a top plate with depending side rails adapted toride respectively on the top and at the ends of said rolls, saidcarriage having stationary entrance and exit positions on correspondingidler rolls, said rails having racks en gageable with said pinions, aclamping device at the rear end of said carriage, said clamping devicecomprising a pivoted cam, a lever attached to said cam, said cabinethaving a stop device engaged by said lever when said carriage approachesits exit position to open said clamping device, said strip thereafterpassing freely through said clamping device being propelled by saidpower driven rolls, said power driven rolls being reversible to returnthe carriage to its entrance position.

7. In a threading device for starting a strip or other sheet through acleaning machine, a cabinet having an entrance wall and an exit wall,said walls having slots for passing the work strip, a plurality ofhorizontally extending rolls in said cabinet, certain of said rolls atsaid entrance and certain of said rolls at said exit being idlers, theintermediate rolls being power driven, means for journaling said rolls,a carriage comprising a top plate with depending side rails adapted toride respectively on the top and at the ends of said rolls, saidcarriage having stationary entrance and exit positions on correspondingidler rolls, said carriage having frictional engagement with said rolls,a clamping device at 35 1,962,872

the rear end of said carriage, said clamping dereversible to return thecarriage to its entrance position.

8. In a blasting machine for blasting strip and the like, said machinehaving an entrance zone, an exit zone and a blasting zone extendingtherebetween, blasting devices for treating the strip passing throughsaid blasting zone, a carriage traversing said blasting zone betweenentrance and exit zones, said carriage having a holding device forholding the forward part of said strip, means for propelling thecarriage to pull the strip through the machine, stop means cooperatingwith the holding device for releasing the holding device when thecarriage reaches said exit zone, and means for thereafter propelling thestrip through the carriage and through the machine.

GILBERT D. DILL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,223,040 Devanney Apr. 17, 1917Moon June 12, 1934 2,331,392 Haig Oct. 12, 1943

